Lubricating pump



Filed June 7, 1935 FIG. I.

um mw 3 f3 3 U w 5 L 5 5 www 11 7 3 Il i .L Z l L 3 3 mw 5 U 1 \\2.u.\\M\ 3 9 7 @nu Z 24 3 Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICELUmcA'rING PUMP l tion of Missouri Application" June 7, 1933, serial No.674,706

11 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricating pumps, and with regard to certainmore specific features to hand operated, push type pumps of this class.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa hand pump which car- -ries its own lubricant supply under air pressureand which is adapted to be used by push application for forcinglubricant to points such as water pumps, steering gears and the like;the provision of a pump of the class described which Vshall effect anautomatic return action after pumping strokes are manually effected,without the building up of excessive resistance to applied pressure; theprovision of a pump of this class having in connection with said returnfeature, an automatic priming feature; the provision of a form of thispump which is particularly adapted to lubricating points such assteering columns where excessive forcing of the lubricant into theapparatus is not to be desired; and the provision of apparatus of thisclass which is simple and compact in form. Other objects will be in partobvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated two of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing another form.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral 1 acylinder having `a relatively fixed cap 3 and a removable base 5, thelatter carrying an outlet valve body 7 which slidably accommodates a ram9 having inlet ports 11 and an outlet passage 13. A ball check valve 15in the passage 13 normally pressed to its seat by a spring 17 is adaptedto be unseated by the end of the ram 9 when the ram is at the extremeleft-hand end of its stroke, but to be completely seated when the ram isat the right-hand end of its stroke, as shown. A passage is providedsurrounding the lower end of the ram and connecting the ports 11 withthe passage 13. This connection is effective in all positions of theram.

An outlet nipple 19 is screwed into the body 7 and carries an adjustablethreaded bushing 21 for said spring 17. A suitable push type of coupling23 is attached to theoutletbushing 19 and serves to deliver fluid toa'receiving fitting. The fitting may be any one of known types which areused for delivering lubricant to the part requiring it. The fitting 23is preferably of a type which, by means of various attachments,accommodates itself to various receiving fittings, but this featurebeing no part of the present invention, further description is deemed tobe unnecessary.

The ram 9 is attached to a piston rod 25 by means of a self-aligning pincoupling 27, said piston rod 25 extending through said head 3. Upon thepiston rod 25 rides a freely oating piston 29, between which and saidrod are locatedlip packngs 31 which seal against leakage increasinglywell with increase in pressure. The packings 31 are retained withinthreaded housings 33 having suitable openings 35 therein fortransmitting pressure to the packings 31.

It is the purpose of the inventionto have lubricant positioned on thelower side L of the piston 29" and air on the upper side U. Lubricant isintroduced into the lower side L by unscrewing the cylinder l from thebase 5, the piston 29 being at this time at the extreme lower end of theempty cylinder 1. The cylinder 1 is then introduced into the lubricantand the reciprocating parts are drawn rearwardly. This contacts thecoupling 27 with the lower member 33 and the piston. may be drawn intothe cylinder and thus draw lubricant after it. It is to be understoodthat the lubricant is of the semi-liquid viscous variety. 90 At thistime a relief valve 41 is open. After the cylinder is full, the base 5is replaced, the same being connected with the cylinder 1 by means ofthe coarse screw threads 2, as shown. A packing 4 held by'a support 6serves to seal the end of cylinder 1.

Air is introduced on the upper right-hand side U of the piston 29 bymeans of an air receiving fitting 37 adapted to receive an air feedingchuck, the fitting 37 being associated with a check valve 39 forpermitting entry of air into the cylinder 1 but preventing escape of airtherefrom. The air bleeder valve 41 is used to bleed off the air shouldit become desirable to do this, as when refilling.

Heretofore, pumps of this general class have been provided with a returnspring for forcing back the plunger after a forcing stroke has beenmade. We have found that this is undesirable, particularly where a pushtype of coupling 23 is used and forced against the receiving tting asCTI a delivery stroke is made. The disadvantage that we nd is that asthe compression stroke continues, the reaction of the spring builds upaccording to the displacement, that is, the spring follows Hookes law.Furthermore, the end of the stroke, at which the spring provides thegreatest deleterious reaction, is that part of the stroke at which thehighest pressure is desirable under most circumstances. Therefore, itwill be seen that the spring is providing its highest reaction at thetime it is least wanted, and when it is Wanted, as when making return ofthe plunger, the spring has decreased its force due to elongation.

We have overcome the above diiiiculty by passing the piston rod 25through the head 3 in a novel manner. This is done by providing the head3 with an auxiliary cylinder 43 into which the piston rod 25 passes andwherein said rod is screwed to a continuation 45 thereof. Saidcontinuation 45 is attached to the manual operating handle 47. A port 49provides communication between the air. within the cylinder l and theinterior of the cylinder 43.

Interiorly of the cylinder 43, and at the junction 51 between the rods25 and 45, there is provided a packing washer 53 which in effect,provides a piston upon which the air entering said port 49 may react. Ashoulder 55 limits the upward movement of the rods 25, 45, and thus alsocorresponding movement of the handle 47. This shoulder presses upon abushing 57 which is held in place by ascrew cap 59.

The operation of the pump will next be described, assuming the same tobe lled with lubricant and the piston 29 near the head 3.

Air pressure has been introduced above piston 29 by way of the fitting37 and is trapped by the check Valve 39. By way of piston 29, thispressure is transmitted to the lubricant beneath said piston 29.However, the pressure is not great enough to open the valve 15. It isgreat enough to retain the ram 9, piston rods 25, 45 and handle 47 inthe upward position shown, because of the application of pressure to thesmall piston 53.

For operation the coupling 23 is pressed against the receiving tting,the operators hand being on grip 47. Pressure applied to the handle 47results in not only forcing the coupler 23 against the lubricantreceiving means but also results in the ram 9 contacting with the valve15 thereby opening the same; whereupon the air pressure against thepiston 29 forces the lubricant out through the open valve to thereceiving fitting. After a suitable amount has nown, the pressure onhandle 47 is released, and the air pressure on the piston 53 returns thesame to the upward position, thus permitting the valve 15 to close andat the same time automatically disconnecting the coupler 23.

In Fig. 2 is shown another form of the invention in which like numeralsdesignate like parts. This form of the invention is designed primarilyfor high pressure lubricating and changes are accordingly made.

Referring to said Fig. 2, numeral 61 refers to an alternate form ofoutlet body wherein the outlet, disc-type check valve 63 therefor, heldto its seat by spring 65, is placed clear of a plunger 10, so that theplunger itself does not open said check valve. The plunger 10 ismachined to a sliding seal fit in the bore of the body 61. The valve 63opens in response to increase in pressure in the bore of body 61, asdetermined by plunger operation. It is to be understood that a suitablecoupling corresponding to the coupling 23 is applied to the bushing 67by means of a nipple 69. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2,the bushing 57 is also eliminated, thereby permitting the shoulder 55 tocontact directly with the cap 59 and thus providing a longer stroke.

The operation of this form of the invention is similar to that describedin connection with Figure 1, except that when the forward stroke ismade, the check valve 63 is not contacted by the plunger 10 but opensdue to built-up pressure caused by said plunger 10. The longer strokepermits of building up pressures in the bore of body 61 in excess andindependent of the initial pressure created by piston 29. The higherpressures thus developed are required for lubricating water pumps andthe like, as distinct from the lower pressure required by steering gearsand the like. The form of Figure 2 is best for the former purpose, andthe form of Figure 1 is best for the latter purpose.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the advantages of thereturn pressure on the piston 53 are particularly to be noted. In thisform of the invention, the pressure engendered in the body 61 is quitehigh, and increases rapidly as the movement to the left of the plunger 9is increased. Under such conditions, any introduction of a reactingspring for effecting a return stroke is disadvantageous in that it addsan extra reaction against the manual operation.

-It is known to us that the movement of the piston 53 to the lefteffects some increased compression on the air in the chamber U.However,- 1f the ratio of the volume of the cylinder 43 to the volume ofthat part of cylinder l which is on the upper side of the piston 29, islow, the ratio of the increase in pressure is not as high as 1t would bewith a spring. The point is that a spring gives no low pressure whenoccupying its free length and a maximum when completely compressed,whereas the air pressure provides a desirably continuous but lowerpressure without excessive variations. As stroking of the pump continuesthe variation becomes lower because the ratio of the volume of cylinder43 to space U becomes smaller. From time to time the air supply inchamber U may be replenished.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. A pump comprising a cylinder, a floating piston therein separatingthe cylinder into a lubricant chamber and an air chamber, reciprocatingmeans passing through the piston, a plunger associated with thereciprocating means within the lubricant chamber, a bushing cooperatingwith said plunger and having an inletl from the lubricant chamber, anoutlet check valve in said bushing responsive to increased pressureeffected by said plunger, a secondary cylinder, and a secondary pistonmeans therein associated with the reciprocating means, means forexposing one side of said secondary piston to the pressure in said airchamber, whereby is effected the return of reciprocating parts afterthey have effected a compressing stroke.

2. A pump comprising a supply cylinder, a oating piston therein,reciprocating means passing through thepiston, pump means associatedwith the reciprocating means and within the lubricant chamber, asecondary cylinder, a secondary piston in the secondary cylinder and onthe reciprocating part, and means whereby said secondary piston isexposed to pressure from the air chamber, whereby is effected the returnof said reciprocating parts after each pumping stroke thereof.

3. A pump comprising a supply cylinder, a floating piston therein,reciprocating means passing through the piston, pump means associatedwith the reciprocating means and within the lubricant chamber, asecondary piston on the reciprocating part, a secondary cylindersurrounding said secondary piston, the volumetric displacement of whichsecondary cylinder is relatively small in proportion to the volumetricdisplacement of the air chamber, and means whereby said secondary pistonis exposed to pressure from the air chamber whereby is effected thereturn of said reciprocating parts after each pumping stroke.

4. A lubricating pump comprising a cylinder, a floating piston therein,reciprocating elements passing through said piston, means associatedwith the chamber on one side of said piston forming a lubricant outlet,an inwardly closing check valve in said outlet, a plunger associatedwith the reciprocating parts adapted upon reciprocation to open saidvalve by contact, the portion of said cylinder on the other side of thepiston forming an air chamber, and means for introducing air into saidchamber.

5. A lubricating pump comprising a cylinder, a floating piston thereinforming two chambers,

reciprocating elements passing through said piston, means associatedwith the chamber on one side of said piston forming a lubricant outlet,an inwardly closing check valve on said outlet, a plunger associatedwith the reciprocating parts adapted upon reciprocating to open saidvalve by contact, the portion of said cylinder on the other side of thepiston forming an air chamber, means for introducing air under pressureinto said chamber, a secondary cylinder having a communication with saidfirst-named cylinder, and a secondary piston in said secondary cylinderand associated with the reciprocating parts, said communicationtransmitting air under pressure to said secondary piston whereby thereturn of the reciprocating parts may be effected.

6. A lubricant pump comprising a cylinder, a floating piston therein,reciprocating elements passing through said piston, a plunger driven bysaid elements, a cylinder with which said plunger cooperates to effectcompression of lubricant and having an inlet opening, an outlet checkvalve adapted to be opened by increase in pressure, means forintroducing air pressure on the opposite side of the piston, a secondarycylinder and a secondary piston in said secondary cylinder and on said'reciprocating parts, and means wherebysaid secondary piston is exposedto the air pressure, whereby is effected the return of the reciprocatingparts after each compression stroke.

'7. A pump comprising a cylinder, a floating piston therein,reciprocating elements passing through the piston, said piston formingin said cylinder a lubricant chamber and an air chamber, outlet meansthrough which lubricant is adapted to be forced from said lubricantchamber by said reciprocation of said elements, means for introducingair pressure into said air chamber, and means on the reciprocatingelements exposed to pressure in said air chamber whereby said elementsare returned after movement effecting said ejection.

8. A pump comprising a cylinder, a floating piston therein,reciprocating elements passing through the piston, said piston formingin said cylinder, a lubricant chamber and an air chamber, outlet meansthrough which lubricant is adapted to be forced from said lubricantchamber by said reciprocation of said elements, means for introducingair pressure into said air chamber, means on the reciprocating elementsexposed to pressure in said air chamber whereby said elements arereturned after movement effecting said ejection, and a relief valve forreleasing said air pressure in said air chamber, whereby indrawing ofthe piston into its cylinder may be effected to draw in lubricant forlling purposes.

9. A pump comprising a cylinder, a piston therein having lubricant onone side and compressed air on the other, said cylinder having anoutlet, a check valve in the outlet, valve opening means extendingfreely through said piston and cylinder and adapted to be reciprocatedto open and close said valve.

10. A pump comprising a cylinder, a piston therein having lubricant onone side and cornpressed air on the other, said cylinder having anout1eta check valve in the outlet, valve opening means extending freelythrough said piston and cylinder and adapted to be reciprocated to openand close said valve, a secondary piston attached to said valve openingmeans, a secondary cylinder slidably containing said secondary piston,and means exposing said secondary piston to the compressed air to whichthe first-named piston is exposed, whereby is effected a return toinitial positions of the valve opening means.

1l. A pump comprising a cylinder, a free piston therein having lubricanton one side and compressed air on the other, said cylinder having anoutlet, a check valve in the outlet, compressing means extending freelythrough said piston and cylinder and adapted to be reciprocated, anoutlet cylinder having an openingV communicating with the first-namedcylinder and accommodating said compressing means whereby compressionmay be effected, a secondary piston on the compressing means, asecondary cylinder containing said piston, and means whereby saidsecondary piston is exposed to said compressed air, whereby may beeffected the return of the compressing means after a compression stroke.

ALEXANDER P. FOX. WILLIAM S. BOEHM.

